Pierre Gasly states timeline for ‘clear answer’ about his future

Pierre Gasly anticipates his future being resolved in the next few weeks, no longer unequivocal about staying at AlphaTauri.

The Frenchman has emerged as the strong favourite to join Esteban Ocon at Alpine with Fernando Alonso moving on to Aston Martin.

Any difficulty surrounds Gasly being contracted to Red Bull for one more year, with the Austrian energy drink giant originally being keen that he saw out that deal at AlphaTauri as Sergio Perez is locked in alongside Max Verstappen at their senior team.

However, in recent weeks Helmut Marko has appeared more amenable to allowing Gasly to join Alpine, which would give the 26-year-old more medium-term security with a factory team.

In his potential place, it was confirmed by Nyck de Vries that he had met Marko in Austria with a view to taking over from Gasly at AlphaTauri.

When rumours first emerged about a possible Gasly switch, the 2020 Italian Grand Prix winner straight-batted them by simply pointing to his 2023 contract with Red Bull and the prior confirmation that he would stay there.

But at the press conference for the Singapore Grand Prix, he made it clear that things are evolving.

“I would expect, obviously everyone knows the ongoing conversation and discussion, but [from] my side I think hopefully in the next two or three weeks we should have a clear answer on my future” said Gasly.

“But so far nothing has changed and when there will be something confirmed on my future, I’m sure you guys (media) will know about it.”

Gasly was also asked about a motivational speech AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost was said to have given, due to the Italy-based squad being in a fairly close tussle for positions seventh to ninth in the Constructors’ Championship with Haas and Aston Martin.

Alfa Romeo, in sixth place where AlphaTauri finished last season, could be out of reach.

“Well, he has been a bit grumpy this year, right? He is not so happy,” said Gasly of his team boss.

“Like all of us, with how the season is going, but I think it’s just important to stay positive and still be constructive until the end of the year because it’s obviously significant for some people when you’re fighting for seventh place in the teams’ championship or you’re talking still about a lot of money for next season.

“So now that’s clearly the target, to get Haas and Alfa [Romeo] 19 points [ahead]…considering we have only 33 points after 16 races that’s a lot to ask, but nothing is impossible. We’ve seen it in the past, we just need one really strong result and it could be possible.

“Definitely Haas, we’ve got to get them, and then we’ll see going to Abu Dhabi what we are fighting for.”

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